Thursday, January 28, 2016

DPW Spotlight Interview: Doug Carter

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Doug's painting, "Forest Sky" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.From Doug's DPW Gallery Page:

Started drawing and painting at a young age; had my mom's artistic touch and her encouragement. Sadly, stopped painting as a teenager because, "it wasn't cool." Started painting later in life again when my wife signed me up for lessons with a local artist. Fell in love with art all over again and have never stopped or looked back. People ask me. What do you like best about painting? I always respond with the same, "it's very therapeutic to me." (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting?

I first started painting at a very young age. The problem was I didn't finish many because I didn't know what I was doing. I did, however, do a lot of drawing from other art and also from real life and outdoors. I feel when I really started painting was when my wife surprised me one birthday with art lessons with a very talented local artist. It was then that I learned all the techniques needed to make a good painting. I have been painting ever since and enjoyed every minute of it.

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Doug's interview.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

Painting was always a passion and a hobby for me as a teenager. I am self taught and never went to art school as a career. To be honest, I never considered it a career until later in life when I started selling art regularly. At that point I did take my art career more seriously and took various workshops with other artists like Chong Quang. Not only is he an excellent teacher, he's a very great artist; he inspired the class with the business of selling art and was very instrumental in pointing me in the right direction.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I have painted in watercolors and acrylics. I have even taken a worship with watercolor artist Joseph Zbukvic. What a very talented artist! I learned a great deal from that experience. I enjoy trying other mediums because you can always learn from them. However, I feel I am the most comfortable with oil paints.

I feel like oil painting has stuck with me because of the challenge of the medium, the reward and the frustration of finally conquering it. I sometimes paint with acrylics to do quick canvas toning and color studies for reference. I personally don't care for the blending ability of acrylic colors nor the darkening of the color once dry. Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I would like, if time permits, to explore watercolor painting further as well.

I get a lot of inspiration from other artists and their artwork. You can really learn a lot from looking through the eyes of other artists and what they see. I'm also inspired by creation in nature and the world around us. I get inspiration by how the light hits a certain object, reflects off of it and how it affects the things around it. I especially enjoy painting sunrises and sunsets because they only last for a short time. I feel like it's a gift from God, just for us, for that very day. I even have one painting named "God's Paintbrush" of the sunset.

What does procrastination look like for you?

Life's distractions and sometimes frustrating situations will cause dry spells. I feel like inspiration is the thing that breaks procrastination and sometimes you just have to start. Sometimes you just have to find a way to break it by getting around other artists and there encouragement.

There is a group of wonderful artists that get together every Saturday to paint. I have found this to be the most effective way to find time to paint on a regular basis. It also helps to have a separate room in your home I call my studio for painting anytime I can.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your painting?

I do a lot of local traveling. I find myself taking a lot of pictures of scenes that catch my eye. I find it's usually the light and the contrast of objects that attract my attention along with things that are unique: old objects, cars, trucks forgotten buildings, barns and streams.

How do you keep art fresh? What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your art vibrant and engaging?

One thing that has always impressed me about oil painting is the fact that the technique of a good painting up close is the mastery of brush strokes and color combination. How a few strokes and a flick of the wrist could be so powerful when you see the painting as a whole. This is what I have always strived for with mixing colors and thoughtful application of the brush to achieve fresh results. One way I avoid burn out is by changing the subject matter from, say, a seascape to a still life. Basically, paint something completely different than what you're currently painting.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I would say it's the positive feedback from viewers, collectors and fellow artists. I'm always fascinated to hear what other people say and see in my art. Also, listening to them talk about it and how it makes them feel. And that brings me to what makes me the happiest about my art, to see God's hand in my work because I know it's a gift from him.